U.S. patent application number 12/137845 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-02 for apparatus and methods for lifting bed mattresses and/or tucking in bed covers.
This patent application is currently assigned to HYATT CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Thomas Blundell, Bradley Duvernay, Gaye Frisby, Carisa Harris-Adamson, Elizabeth Sakaldasis, Susan Schafer, Esther Soria Sonson.
Application Number | 20080235878 12/137845 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39083061 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080235878 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Harris-Adamson; Carisa ; et
al. |
October 2, 2008 |
Apparatus and Methods for Lifting Bed Mattresses and/or Tucking in
Bed Covers
Abstract
The invention discloses differing embodiments of apparatus, and
methods for their use, which are designed to aide in lifting bed
mattresses and tucking in bed covers. In some embodiments, kits are
disclosed which include wedge apparatus for lifting bed mattresses,
and tuck apparatus for tucking in bed covers. In other embodiments,
wedge apparatus for lifting portions of bed mattresses are
disclosed. In still other embodiments, tuck apparatus for tucking
in bed covers are provided. Additional embodiments disclose methods
for using the kits, wedge apparatus, and tuck apparatus.
Inventors: |
Harris-Adamson; Carisa; (San
Carlos, CA) ; Sakaldasis; Elizabeth; (San Francisco,
CA) ; Schafer; Susan; (Oakland, CA) ;
Duvernay; Bradley; (San Francisco, CA) ; Sonson;
Esther Soria; (San Francisco, CA) ; Frisby; Gaye;
(San Francisco, CA) ; Blundell; Thomas; (San
Francisco, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WILDMAN HARROLD ALLEN & DIXON LLP
225 WEST WACKER DRIVE, SUITE 2800
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Assignee: |
HYATT CORPORATION
Chicago
IL
|
Family ID: |
39083061 |
Appl. No.: |
12/137845 |
Filed: |
June 12, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11464703 |
Aug 15, 2006 |
|
|
|
12137845 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
5/658 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 21/028
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
5/658 |
International
Class: |
A47C 31/00 20060101
A47C031/00 |
Claims
1 . A method of tucking a portion of a bed cover under a mattress
of a bed comprising: providing a tuck apparatus comprising a tuck
member comprising a tucking surface and a handle member connected
to said tuck member, wherein said handle member is oriented in
non-parallel relationship with respect to said tuck member;
orienting said tuck member of said tuck apparatus in a
substantially horizontal plane; pressing said tucking surface of
said tuck apparatus against a surface of said bed cover; and
sliding said tucking surface under said mattress to tuck said
portion of said bed cover under said mattress.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the method is for tucking said
portion of said bed cover in between said mattress and a box spring
mattress.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein said tucking surface is
substantially linear.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein said tuck member is substantially
triangular.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein said substantially triangular tuck
member is substantially planar.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of sliding said tucking
surface under said mattress comprises sliding said tucking surface
between said mattress and a box spring mattress in order to tuck
said portion of said bed cover between said mattress and said box
spring mattress.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of sliding said tucking
surface under said mattress reduces a force required to tuck said
portion of said bed cover under said mattress.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the force required to tuck said
portion of said bed cover under said mattress is reduced
substantially in the range of 10 to 90 percent.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of sliding said tucking
surface under said mattress comprises sliding said tucking surface
from a substantially center area of a side portion of said mattress
to an end portion of said mattress.
10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of sliding,
at separate times, said tucking surface from substantially center
areas of three side portions of said mattress to three respective
end portions of said mattress in order to tuck said bed cover under
said three sides of said mattress.
11. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
orienting said tuck member of said tuck apparatus in a
non-horizontal plane; pressing said tucking surface of said tuck
apparatus against another surface of said bed cover in between a
head-board and said mattress; and sliding said tucking surface in
between said head-board and said mattress to tuck said another
surface of said bed cover in between said head-board and said
mattress.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to and is a divisional of
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/464,703 filed Aug. 15, 2006,
which is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The process of making a bed, including lifting a bed
mattress and/or tucking in bed covers between the bed mattress and
box spring mattress, or other support structure, can be physically
taxing. Most often, beds are made manually without the aide of
bed-making apparatus. Many of the known bed-making apparatus and
methods of use experience one or more problems. Some representative
problems with these bed-making apparatus and methods may include:
requiring strenuous bed-making activity potentially resulting in
fatigue and injury, requiring excessive time to make the bed,
leading to poor quality made-beds, and/or other types of
problems.
[0003] Bed-making apparatus and methods for their use are needed
which may solve one or more problems in one or more of the existing
bed-making methods and apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In one aspect of the invention, a tuck apparatus is
disclosed for tucking at least a portion of one bed cover under a
mattress of a bed. The tuck apparatus includes a tuck member having
at one end at least one substantially linear tucking surface. The
tucking surface is adapted to be, while the tuck member is oriented
in a substantially horizontal plane, pressed against a surface of
the bed cover and slid under the mattress in order to tuck the
surface of the bed cover under the mattress. The tuck apparatus
further includes a handle member connected to the tuck member. The
handle member is positioned in non-parallel relationship with
respect to the tuck member. The handle member is adapted to be
grasped to allow sliding of the tucking surface under the
mattress.
[0005] In another aspect of the invention, a method is disclosed of
tucking a portion of a bed cover under a mattress of a bed. In one
step, a tuck apparatus is provided. The tuck apparatus includes a
tuck member having a tucking surface, and a handle member connected
to the tuck member. The handle member is oriented in non-parallel
relationship with respect to the tuck member. In another step, the
tuck member of the tuck apparatus is oriented in a substantially
horizontal plane. In yet another step, the tucking surface of the
tuck apparatus is pressed against a surface of the bed cover. In an
additional step, the tucking surface is slid under the mattress to
tuck the portion of the bed cover under the mattress.
[0006] In yet another aspect, a tuck apparatus is disclosed for
tucking at least a portion of one bed cover under a mattress of a
bed. The tuck apparatus includes a substantially planar tuck member
comprising a tucking surface for tucking in the bed cover under the
mattress. Additionally, the tuck apparatus includes a handle member
connected to the tuck member. The handle member is positioned in
non-parallel relationship with respect to the tuck member and the
handle member.
[0007] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
invention will become better understood with reference to the
following drawings, description and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a
bed-making kit under the invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a partial, perspective view showing the step of
positioning the wedge apparatus of FIG. 1 with respect to a bed
mattress under one method embodiment for making a bed under the
invention;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a partial, perspective view showing the step of
sliding the wedge apparatus of FIG. 2 under the bed mattress under
one method embodiment for making a bed under the invention;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a partial, perspective view showing the step of
positioning a tuck apparatus with respect to the bed mattress of
FIG. 3 under one method embodiment for making a bed under the
invention;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a partial, perspective view showing the step of
sliding the tuck apparatus of FIG. 4 under the bed mattress under
one method embodiment for making a bed under the invention; and
[0013] FIG. 6 is a partial, perspective view showing the step of
sliding the tuck apparatus of FIG. 5 under and along one side of
the bed mattress under one method embodiment for making a bed under
the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The following detailed description is of the best currently
contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description
is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the
purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,
since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended
claims.
[0015] In one embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 1, a
kit 10 is provided for tucking at least a portion of a bed cover
under a bed mattress. For purposes of this application, the word
"tucking" or "tuck" is defined as locating and/or positioning a
portion of a bed cover under a bed mattress. The kit 10 may include
a wedge apparatus 12 and a tuck apparatus 14. The wedge apparatus
12 may be adapted to aide in lifting a portion of a bed mattress in
an upwardly direction off a box spring mattress in order to make it
easier for a person making the bed to tuck in one or more bed
covers between the bed mattress and box spring mattress. In other
embodiments, the wedge apparatus 12 may be adapted to lift a
portion of a bed mattress off other types of supporting structures.
The tuck apparatus 14 may be adapted to tuck one or more portions
of one or more bed covers under a bed mattress.
[0016] The wedge apparatus 12 of the kit 10 may comprise a wedge
member 16 having a bottom surface 17, a sloped surface 18, and a
first handle member 20 connected to the wedge member 16. The bottom
surface 17 and the sloped surface 18 may be adjoining, and may form
an acute angle 19 which facilitates the sloped surface 18 engaging
a surface of a bed mattress, and facilitates lifting of the bed
mattress. The wedge member 16 may be adapted for lifting a portion
of a bed mattress. Two holes 22 and 24 may define the wedge member
16, and may extend horizontally through a cross-section of the
wedge member 16. The holes 22 and 24 may be used to reduce the
weight of the wedge apparatus 12, and may be circular or in other
configurations, shapes, or quantities. A first connecting member 26
may connect the first handle member 20 to the wedge member 16. In
other embodiments, the first handle member 20 may be connected to
the wedge member 16 directly, or through other means. The first
connecting member 26 may be substantially rectangular, round, oval,
or in other configurations or shapes. For ergonomic reasons, the
first handle member 20 may be in non-parallel relation with respect
to the first connecting member 26, bottom surface 17, wedge member
16, and/or other portion of wedge apparatus 12. The first handle
member 20 may be at an angle 28 with respect to the first
connecting member 26 in substantially the range of 30 degrees to
120 degrees. In other embodiments, angle 28 may be substantially in
the range of 60 to 90 degrees. A grip member 30 may cover one or
more portions of the first handle member 20. The grip member 30 may
be made of foam, rubber, or other materials.
[0017] Sloped surface 18 may be substantially linear, may begin at
an end 32 of the wedge member 16, and may end at a mattress
receiving surface 34. The mattress receiving surface 34 may be
oriented in non-parallel relation with respect to sloped surface
18. The wedge member 16 may include a substantially planar
stabilizing surface 36 having a width 38 wider than a width 40 of
the sloped surface 18, and/or other portion of the wedge member 16.
One or more portions 41 of the substantially planar stabilizing
surface 36 may be curved. Both the mattress receiving surface 34
and the substantially planar stabilizing surface 36 may be adapted
to be oriented in substantially horizontal planes when the sloped
surface 16 is slid under a bed mattress and/or above a box spring
mattress. The substantially planar stabilizing surface 36 may be
oriented in parallel alignment with the mattress receiving surface
34. The first handle member 20 may be oriented in non-parallel
alignment with both the substantially planar stabilizing surface 36
and the mattress receiving surface 34. In other embodiments, the
wedge apparatus 12 and/or wedge member 16 may include one or more
stop members (not shown) which may prevent the wedge member 16 from
slipping out of a position in between a bed mattress and/or a box
spring mattress.
[0018] When the wedge member 16 is upright, as shown in FIG. 1, so
that it is oriented in a substantially vertical plane, the sloped
surface 18 of the wedge member 16 may be adapted to be slid in
between a bed mattress and a box spring mattress, locating one or
more portions of the sloped surface 18 under the bed mattress and
above the box spring mattress. In such manner, the bed mattress may
be lifted upwardly off the box spring mattress due to the bed
mattress being forced to slide up the sloped surface 18 of the
wedge member 16. The described movement of the wedge member 16 may
be achieved by a person grasping the first handle member 20 to
apply a force to the wedge member 16 in order to slide the sloped
surface 18 under a bottom surface of the bed mattress and above a
top surface of the box spring mattress. The substantially planar
stabilizing surface 36 may be slid on top of the box spring
mattress forcing the bed mattress to be slid up the sloped surface
18 until the bed mattress comes to rest on top of the mattress
receiving surface 34. In such manner, the bed mattress may be
stabilized in a raised position on top of the mattress receiving
surface 34 due to the use of the wedge apparatus 12.
[0019] The use of the wedge apparatus 12 may reduce the force
required to lift the bed mattress off the box spring mattress. In
some embodiments, the force required to lift the bed mattress off
the box spring mattress may be reduced substantially in the range
of 10 to 90 percent. In other embodiments, the force may be reduced
by varying percentages.
[0020] The wedge apparatus 12 may be made of plastic or other types
of materials. In other embodiments, the wedge apparatus 12 may be
of varying shapes, sizes, configurations, and orientations, with
differing numbers and types of sloped surfaces 18.
[0021] The tuck apparatus 14 of the kit 10 may comprise a tuck
member 42 having a tucking surface 44, and a second handle member
46 connected to the tuck member 42 by a second connecting member
52. The tuck member 42 may be adapted for tucking a portion of a
bed cover under a bed mattress. In other embodiments, the second
handle member 46 may be directly connected to the tuck member 42,
or connected by other means. The second handle member 46 may be in
non-parallel relation with respect to tuck member 42, or other
portion of tuck apparatus 14. The tuck member 42 may comprise a
substantially planar, triangular surface 48. The tucking surface 44
of the tuck member 42 may lie at one end 50 of the tuck member 42,
may be substantially linear, and may be substantially perpendicular
to the second connecting member 52. A width 54 of the tucking
surface 44 may be wider than a width 56 of the second connecting
member 52 in order to allow contact with a greater portion of the
bed cover being tucked in. The second connecting member 52 may be
substantially rectangular, round, oval, or in other configurations
or shapes. For ergonomic reasons, the second handle member 46 may
be at an angle 58 with respect to the second connecting member 52
and/or tuck member 42 in substantially the range of 30 degrees to
120 degrees. In other embodiments, angle 58 may be substantially in
the range of 60 to 90 degrees. A grip member 60 may cover one or
more portions of the second handle member 46. The grip member 60
may be made of foam, rubber, or other materials.
[0022] When the sloped surface 18 of the wedge member 16 of the
wedge apparatus 12 is located under a bed mattress and the tuck
member 42 is oriented in a substantially horizontal plane, the
tucking surface 44 of the tuck apparatus 14 is adapted to be
pressed against one or more surfaces of one or more bed covers
overhanging the bed mattress. While in this position, the tucking
surface 44 may be adapted to be slid under a surface of the bed
mattress and above a surface of the box spring mattress, in order
to force a portion of the bed cover in between the box spring
mattress and mattress, thereby tucking in that portion of the bed
cover. Movement of the tucking surface 44 in such manner may be
achieved by a person grasping the second handle member 46.
[0023] The use of the tuck apparatus 14 and/or wedge apparatus 12
may reduce the force required to tuck a portion of the bed cover
under the bed mattress into a position in between the mattress and
box spring mattress. In some embodiments, the force required to
tuck the portion of the bed cover under the mattress may be reduced
substantially in the range of 10 to 90 percent. In other
embodiments, the force may be reduced by varying percentages.
[0024] The tuck apparatus 14 may be made of plastic or other types
of materials. In other embodiments, the tuck apparatus 14 may be of
varying shapes, sizes, configurations, and orientations, with
differing numbers, types, and configurations of tucking members 42
and tucking surfaces 44.
[0025] In another embodiment, a method is disclosed for tucking at
least a portion of at least one bed cover under a mattress of a
bed. The method may be used to tuck the bed cover in between a bed
mattress and a box spring mattress, or other support structure. In
one step of the method, as shown in FIG. 2, the wedge apparatus 12
of FIG. 1 may be positioned adjacent to one or more bed covers 62
overhanging a bed mattress 64 and a box spring mattress 66, or
other support structure. In this position, a wedge member 16 of the
wedge apparatus 12 may be aligned for engagement with a bottom
surface of the bed mattress 64 and a top surface of the box spring
mattress 66. In other embodiments, the wedge apparatus 12 may be
positioned adjacent bed and box spring mattresses 64 and 66 without
the presence of bed covers 62. The wedge apparatus 12 may be
positioned adjacent a substantially center area 65 of a side
portion 67 of the bed mattress 64. In other embodiments, the wedge
apparatus 12 may be positioned at different areas of the bed
mattress 64, such as the corners or other areas of the bed mattress
64. The wedge apparatus 12 may comprise any of the wedge apparatus
embodiments disclosed within this specification.
[0026] In another step of the method, as shown in FIG. 3, a sloped
surface 18 of the wedge apparatus 12 may be slid under the bed
mattress 64, and above the box spring mattress 66 or other support
structure, in order to lift at least a portion of the bed mattress
64 upwardly. The sloped surface 18 of the wedge apparatus 12 may be
slid under the substantially center area 65 of the side portion 67
of the bed mattress 64. In other embodiments, the sloped surface 18
of the wedge apparatus 12 may be slid under different areas of the
bed mattress 64 in order to lift different portions of the mattress
64 upwardly. For instance, the sloped surface 18 of the wedge
apparatus 12 may be slid, at separate times, into substantially
center areas of three different sides of the bed mattress 64 in
order to aide in tucking in bed covers 62 on three sides of the bed
mattress 64. In other embodiments, the sloped surface 18 of the
wedge apparatus 12 may be slid into varying areas of any side of
the bed mattress 64. The wedge apparatus 12 may be slid by a person
grasping and applying a force to a first handle member 20 of the
wedge apparatus 12 and sliding the sloped surface 18 under a bottom
surface of the mattress 64 and above a top surface of the box
spring mattress 66 or other support structure.
[0027] During this step, as shown in FIG. 3, the wedge member 16 of
the wedge apparatus 12 may be oriented upright in a substantially
vertical plane, and both a mattress receiving surface 34 and a
substantially planar stabilizing surface 36 of the wedge apparatus
12 may be oriented in substantially horizontal planes. As the
sloped surface 18 of the wedge apparatus 12 is slid under the bed
mattress 64, the insertion of the sloped surface 18 may force a
portion of one or more bed covers 62 overhanging the bed mattress
64 to be tucked between the bed mattress 64 and box spring mattress
66 in the area where the sloped surface 18 is inserted. After the
sloped surface 18 of the wedge apparatus 12 is slid under the bed
mattress 64, the bed mattress 64 may abut against the mattress
receiving surface 34 of the wedge apparatus 12, which may be
oriented in a substantially horizontal plane 36 to stabilize the
mattress 64 in its position against the wedge apparatus 12.
Similarly, after the sloped surface 18 of the wedge apparatus 12 is
slid under the bed mattress 64, the box spring mattress 66 may be
abutted against the substantially planar stabilizing surface 36 of
the wedge apparatus 12, which may be oriented in a substantially
horizontal plane to stabilize the wedge apparatus 12 in its
position against the box spring mattress 66.
[0028] In yet another step of the method, as shown in FIG. 4, after
the wedge apparatus 12 is slid under the bed mattress 64, a tuck
member 42 of a tuck apparatus 14 may be oriented in a substantially
horizontal plane, and a tucking surface 44 of the tuck apparatus 14
may be positioned adjacent and pressed against a surface of one or
more of the bed covers 62 overhanging the bed mattress 64 and box
spring mattress 66, or other support structure. The tucking surface
44 of the tuck apparatus 14 may be positioned adjacent and pressed
against a substantially center area 65 of the side portion 67 of
the bed mattress 64, just to the side of the location of the
inserted wedge apparatus 12. In other embodiments, the tucking
surface 44 of the tuck apparatus 14 may be positioned in a variety
of positions with respect to the bed mattress 64, bed cover 62,
and/or wedge apparatus 12. In still other embodiments, the tucking
surface 44 of the tuck apparatus 14 may be positioned adjacent and
pressed against different surfaces of the bed covers 62 along
different areas of the bed mattress 64 in order to place the
tucking surface 44 in position to tuck different portions of the
bed covers 62 under different areas of the mattress 64. For
instance, the tucking surface 44 of the tuck apparatus 14 may be
positioned adjacent and pressed against, at separate times,
substantially center areas on three different sides of the bed
mattress.
[0029] Movement of the tucking surface 44 of the tuck apparatus 14
may be accomplished by a person grasping a second handle member 46
of the tuck apparatus 14. When the tucking surface 44 of the tuck
apparatus 14 is positioned adjacent and pressed against a surface
of one or more of the bed covers 62, the tuck member 42 may be
oriented in a substantially horizontal plane. In other embodiments,
the tuck member 42 may be oriented in various configurations or
orientations. For instance, the tuck member 42 may be oriented in a
substantially vertical plane and/or non-horizontal plane and the
tucking surface 44 may be positioned adjacent and pressed against a
portion of bed cover 62 lying in between a bed headboard (not
shown) and the bed mattress 64. It should be noted that the tuck
apparatus 14 may comprise any of the tuck apparatus embodiments
disclosed within this specification.
[0030] In another step of the method, as shown in FIG. 5, after the
wedge apparatus 12 is slid under the bed mattress 64, the tucking
surface 44 of the tuck apparatus 14 may be slid, while the tuck
member 42 is oriented in a substantially horizontal plane, under
the bed mattress 64 and above the box spring mattress 66 or other
support structure, in order to tuck a portion of the bed covers 62
in between the bed mattress 64 and box spring mattress 66 in the
area where the tucking surface 44 is inserted. The tucking surface
44 of the tuck apparatus 14 may be slid under a substantially
center area 65 of the side portion 67 of the bed mattress 64, just
to either side of the location of the inserted wedge apparatus 12.
In other embodiments, the tucking surface 44 of the tuck apparatus
14 may be slid under varying portions of the bed mattress 64 in
varying positions relative to the placement of the wedge apparatus
12. For instance, the tucking surface 44 of the tuck apparatus 14
may be slid under, at separate times, substantially center areas on
three different sides of the bed mattress in order to tuck in
different portions of the bed covers 62 at different areas of the
bed mattress 64. In another embodiment, the tucking surface 44 may
be slid in between a bed headboard (not shown) and the bed mattress
64 in order to tuck a portion of bed cover 62 in between the bed
headboard and bed mattress 64. Movement of the tucking surface 44
may be accomplished by a person grasping the second handle member
46 of the tuck apparatus 14 in order to move the tucking surface 44
as described.
[0031] In still another step of the method, the tucking surface 44
of the tuck apparatus 14 may be slid, while the tuck member 42 is
oriented in a substantially horizontal plane, under and along one
side of the bed mattress 64 from its position shown in FIG. 5 to
its end position 69 under the bed mattress 64 shown in FIG. 6. In
such manner the bed covers 62 may be tucked in between the bed
mattress 64 and box spring mattress 66, or other support structure,
along the entire length of the bed mattress 64 that the tucking
surface 44 is slid. In order to tuck in bed covers 62 along varying
sides of the bed mattress 66, the tucking surface 44 of the tuck
apparatus 14 may be slid along various sides of the bed mattress
66. For instance, the tucking surface 44 of the tuck apparatus 14
may be slid, at different times, from substantially center areas of
three side portions of the mattress to three respective end
portions of the mattress 64 in order to tuck in the bed covers 62
along three different sides of the mattress 64. In other
embodiments, the tucking surface 44 may be slid into and along
different areas of varying sides of the bed mattress 66. For
instance, the tucking surface 44 may be slid in between, and along,
a bed headboard (not shown) and the bed mattress 64 in order to
tuck bed cover 62 in between the bed headboard and bed mattress
64.
[0032] The wedge apparatus 12 and tuck apparatus 14 may be used in
conjunction with each other to tuck in bed covers 62 around the
entire mattress 64. For instance, a portion of the wedge apparatus
12 may be slid under a portion of the mattress 64 on one side of
the mattress 64. The tuck apparatus 14 may be pressed against a
portion of the bed covers 62 on that side of the mattress 64. The
tuck apparatus 14 may then be slid under and along that side of the
mattress 64 in order to tuck in the bed covers 62 along that side
of the mattress 64. Subsequently, the wedge apparatus 12 may be
removed from that side of the mattress 64 and slid under a portion
of the mattress 64 on a second side of the mattress 64. The tuck
apparatus 14 may be pressed against a portion of the bed covers 62
on the second side of the mattress 64. The tuck apparatus 14 may
then be slid under and along the second side of the mattress 64 in
order to tuck in the bed covers 62 along the second side of the
mattress 64. This process may be repeated to tuck in bed covers 62
along as many sides of the bed mattress 64 as desired in order to
fully make the bed.
[0033] In another embodiment, the invention may comprise the wedge
apparatus 12 shown in FIG. 1 without the tuck apparatus 14. The
wedge apparatus 12 may allow a portion of a bed mattress 64 to be
lifted off a box spring mattress 66, or other support structure.
The structure of the wedge apparatus 12 may comprise any of the
wedge apparatus 12 embodiments disclosed within this
specification.
[0034] In still another embodiment, the invention may comprise the
tuck apparatus 14 shown in FIG. 1 without the wedge apparatus 12.
The tuck apparatus 14 may allow one or more portions of one or more
bed covers 62 to be tucked in between a bed mattress 64 and box
spring mattress 66, or other support structure. The structure of
the tuck apparatus 14 may comprise any of the tuck apparatus
embodiments disclosed within this specification.
[0035] In yet another embodiment, the invention may comprise a
method of sliding the wedge apparatus 12 of FIG. 1 under a bed
mattress 64 in order to lift one or more portions of the mattress
in an upwardly direction off a box spring mattress 66 or other
support structure. The method may not include use of tuck apparatus
14. The structure of the wedge apparatus 12 may comprise any of the
wedge apparatus embodiments disclosed within this specification.
Similarly, the method of use of the wedge apparatus 12 may comprise
any of the methods of use of the wedge apparatus as described in
this specification.
[0036] In an additional embodiment, the invention may comprise a
method of tucking a portion of at least one bed cover 62 under a
bed mattress 64 utilizing the tuck apparatus 14 of FIG. 1, without
the use of wedge apparatus 12. The structure of the tuck apparatus
14 may comprise any of the tuck apparatus embodiments disclosed
within this specification. Similarly, the method of use of the tuck
apparatus 14 may comprise any of the methods of use of the tuck
apparatus as described in this specification.
[0037] One or more embodiments of the disclosed wedge and tuck
apparatus and/or methods of the invention may solve one or more
problems in lifting bed mattresses and/or tucking in bed covers.
The invention may make it less difficult to make a bed, may
decrease the force required to make a bed, may decrease the fatigue
a person experiences in making a bed, may decrease the likelihood
of injury a person may experience in making a bed, may improve
efficiency in making a bed, may improve the quality of the made
bed, may improve the accuracy, repeatability, and consistency of
making a bed, and/or may address other types of problems known in
the art.
[0038] It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing
relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
* * * * *